.jpg)
As John begins this next vision of seven angels who play a
key role in the unfolding of events, and messages to our world, it is with the
knowledge of what it means to have been marked by the third and final
beast. This indicator places the timeframe
of relevance in our day, in the last days, when the United States is reaching
its pinnacle of power, its ability to exert control over the finances around
the world. In short, as we look around
us, we find ourselves in the very midst of the prophecy John is about to
reveal. He begins in verse one of
chapter 14 of his book of Revelations of Jesus Christ saying … “And I looked,
and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four
thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.” This passage could be interpreted in 2 ways
with respect to the location of this event.
First, it could be concluded that the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is standing
with the 144,000 especially redeemed first fruits on “the mount Sion” meaning
in heaven. If heaven is the location of
this revelation then it stands to reason that the 144,000 were a selection of
those who had died in the hope of the Messiah, and were raised at his first
coming, ascending with Him to heaven as the first fruits of the mission of our
redemption. However if this location is
the correct interpretation it tends to negate the special mission in the last
days of this number of saints that appeared to be indicated earlier in his
book.
The second interpretation for the location associated with
“the mount Sion” is the symbolic center of the church, where the true followers
of Christ assemble. In this context, and
you will note, there are no other indicators in the texts that follow of scenes
with “heavenly” characteristics regarding location, Christ is seen “standing”
with His people. The followers of Christ
have never been deserted through all of time and history in this world. No matter what the severity of the attacks of
His enemy, Jesus remains standing with those who seek Him out. It is His divine power that thwarts the plans
of the enemy and sees good come from all things. It is no different in our day, than it has
been when those who followed Christ faced danger in any age. From Adam, to Noah. to Jacob, to Moses, to
David, to Daniel, to the Disciples, to the Church fleeing in the wilderness, to
us in our modern age; Jesus Christ has always stood with His followers, and His
church. As we enter these final days
John sees Him yet again affirm His closeness to those who seek to follow Him
alone.
Then John contrasts those in the previous chapter who had
received the mark of the final beast, with these who Jesus is standing
with. As opposed to those who have
received the mark of the beast in their hands or foreheads, these group of
followers have … “his Father's name written in their foreheads”. It is the very name of God the Father whose
mark we bear. Instead of the “666”
numerical symbolism of those who would compel the conscience of men to forever
be slaves; we have chosen to receive the Name of His Father God into our minds
and hearts freely, to forever be made free from the slavery of
self-service. This is about as stark a
contrast as is possible to make. It
compares those who are truly free in Jesus Christ (free from the evil within
themselves), with those who are forever marked with the chains of slavery
(powerless to follow any course but that of pure self-service). This contrast also supports the time element
of this vision. The relevance of the
third beast and his forced mark are more aligned with events that occur in the
last days. While this could have been a
symbolic battle between good and evil in any age, it has more relevance in the
days of the third beast, when his power and the conflict he presents to the
world are at their highest.
John continues in verse 2 … “And I heard a voice from
heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I
heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: [verse 3] And they sung as
it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the
elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four
thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”
John’s attention is now drawn from mount Sion, to heaven where he hears
a voice that carries the sound of many waters.
The heavenly courts begin playing their harps as the 144,000 begin to
sing a new song of praise. This song is
unique. This song is singular in
nature. It is not impossible to learn,
or so musically complex that only Andrea Bocelli could pull it off. However the words of this song have a meaning
only the 144,000 can truly identify with.
The connection between singer and lyric can only be fully appreciated by
those who have had this experience. Those
who have been “redeemed from the earth” are the only ones who “get it”. During the time of greatest conflict, when
man is forced to choose between the bonds of slavery to self, under the
pressure of the edicts of men, or the freedom that comes from choosing to
follow Christ alone – it is only then when this level of redemption is fully
understood. To be made free from the
evil within us, by the power and love of the Lamb, is something only few have
had happen while still living in this world of sin. Enoch discovered it. And now the 144,000 know what this freedom is
like. The redemption they have
experienced is so full and so unique, only they can sing about it.
Notice the 4 beasts in front of the throne of God are named
specifically, the 24 elders are again named specifically. While other sentient life forms and
representatives of our own species have a special place and mission in our
redemption, while they serve God in places of honor, and are before Him day and
night – they remain unable to make the special connection with this particular
song of redemption the 144,000 are able to sing. No one, no man or woman, who has not
personally experienced the freedom from evil that Jesus Christ alone can offer
will ever be able to sing this song. It
has a special poignancy in the age in which it appears. Our worship and gratitude for the gift of
freedom from self, begins immediately upon experiencing it. We cannot remain silent when this
transformation occurs because it is so life altering. The special experience of being made free
from self is unique. It is what drives
the meaning of this song, and what makes it so special even when the courts of
heaven can only accompany its melody.
John continues in verse 4 … “These are they which were not
defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb
whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the
firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. [verse 5] And in their mouth was found no
guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” The characteristics of the 144,000 continue
to be revealed. John describes them as
those who were not defiled with women, or as being virgins. These people did not attempt to find God by
pursuing alternate ideas, or paths to God, but instead through Jesus Christ
alone. They did not rely upon themselves
for salvation. They did not look to
eastern philosophies, or new age mantras, cult leaders, or even the head of
their local churches. Instead they
looked only to Jesus Christ for their redemption and salvation. The followers of Christ were once
symbolically represented as a woman in vision, so too, the followers of the
dragon are represented by an evil woman akin to Jezebel the mother of harlots. As opposed to Jezebel’s pursuit of any ideas
of God mixed with self-service, the virgin church follows only one leader, and
one idea. Jesus Christ is at its head,
and love for others is its guiding principle.
The 144,000 have experienced redemption from sin and self as
first fruits, or ahead of the remainder of humanity. Many fall asleep in Christ having not quite
reached the fruition of the freedom from self He began in them. When they awake in the resurrection of the
righteous they will be instantly fully transformed from who they were, not just
physically, but spiritually, and emotionally as well. As those who slept in Christ arise, they
arise as new creatures, or new creations.
It is then when their minds finally experience the freedom from sin, the
destination their journey was headed towards while they yet walked this
earth. Only then do they know what it is
like to be completely free from self.
The 144,000 however are the first fruits. They experience this phenomenon prior to
death, and if this timeframe holds true, they experience it prior to His second
coming. They stand as those proclaimed
to be “Holy still”. They do not lie, and
are without fault, before the throne of God.
It is not a false proclamation they make of serving Christ, but a
genuine transformation they have experienced through Him. To be without fault before God, after having
been translated to heaven seems like a more “normal” condition. After all, no one with sin, could stand in
His presence to begin with. The whole
point of our redemption is to rid us of sin, so that we can stand before Him
without fault or guile. But to stand
before Him ahead of time, while still located in a world of sin, but without
participation in that sin, is truly an accomplishment. It can only be conceived of through the
transforming power and love of Jesus Christ alone. These first fruits are able to stand before
God, not just forgiven, but reformed.
They are able to stand in His presence because they have been
transformed by the power of His Son.
They represent the countless millions who will soon join them in this
place and in this condition of freedom from self.
The beauty of the message of this revelation of Jesus
Christ, is that we, you and I, can be a part of this number. You and I can find ourselves fully
transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ. We can submit the whole of who we are to Him,
and find ourselves part of the perfection of the 144,000 first fruits before
God. We need NOT wait until after the
grave. We need NOT wait until some
magical time in the future. We already
live in the last days. We already live
under the threat of the third and final beast, and the forced mark he is soon
to put upon the world. We have a unique
opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit ahead of that day, and find ourselves
fully transformed to stand before God and His throne without fault. More than just forgiveness. More than just a desire to be like
Christ. Instead the full on
transformation of every thought, motive, and action to be in harmony with His
will and His law. This is the promise He
offers. This is the revelation John was revealing,
the offering of perfection wrought by Christ within us and to the entire world. How sad only 144,000 were willing to be fully
set free. Will you be one of them? Will I?
And more revelations were quick to follow …
No comments:
Post a Comment